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Old town, Warsaw, Poland

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Poland: visa and passport requirements

Passport required Return ticket required Visa required
Australian Yes No No
British Yes No No
Canadian Yes No No
Other EU 1 No No
USA Yes No No
Table note: 

Certain other nationalities, including South Africans, still require visas to visit Poland. You can find updates at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.msz.gov.pl).

Passports: 

To enter Poland, a passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except EU nationals (1) holding a valid national ID card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU member state. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed. EU nationals can remain in Poland indefinitely.

Visas: 

Visas are not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic and business stays in Poland of up to 90 days.

Visa note: 

Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Poland.

Types and cost: 

Short-stay visa: £54. Be sure to get one of these rather than a transit visa, which costs the same but is only good for a period of two days.

Validity: 

Short-stay tourist visas are normally issued for stays of up to 90 days only.

Transit: 

Transit visas cost £54 and are valid for two days.

Application to: 

Applicants must book an appointment online at the closest Polish consulate or embassy in their country of residence. You can find a complete list at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.msz.gov.pl).

Schengen visas: 

Poland is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. A 90-day visa allows you to visit all the Schengen countries but you cannot exceed 90 days in total. Once your 90 days is up, you must leave the Schengen zone.

Working days: 

Between 10 days and one month, depending on the applicant’s passport/nationality.

Sufficient funds: 

Visa applicants must prove that they have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the period of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a third country.

Entry documents: 

Visitors from Australia, Canada and the USA need to show a valid passport. For nationals from EU countries, a national identity card is sufficient.

Extension of stay: 

Short-stay visas are only extended in emergencies (eg medical ones).

Entry with children: 

Visa fees are waived for children under six and cost £32 for those between six and 12.

Entry with pets: 

A pet must have an ISO pet microchip inserted and then be vaccinated for rabies and various other diseases at least 21 days prior to travel and not more than one year prior to travel. Contact any Polish mission abroad for more details.

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